Yuma man sentenced for second sexual assault

A Yuma man has been sentenced to 12-1/2 years in prison for a sexual assault during which the victim was choked until unconscious.

Jesse Thomas Stewart, 21, was sentenced Friday in Yuma County Superior Court after previously pleading guilty to attempted sexual assault and aggravated assault.

Stewart had originally been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count each of attempted second-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, armed robbery with a deadly weapon and theft of a means of transportation, in connection with the sexual assault of the Yuma woman in September.

Stewart was already on parole for having attacked a Foothills woman in her home in May 2005, according to court records.

In the latest case, Stewart was accused of entering the victim's home in the 1800 block of South Madison Ave. and wielding a knife.

The victim told police she fought with the unknown man, scratching his face and neck. Stewart, however, pushed her to the ground, "where he had both hands around her neck choking her," according to court records.

The victim said she remembered scratching at his face and neck before losing consciousness.

When she came to, she found her pants had been removed, and her blouse was torn. She said her attacker had her truck keys and wallet, and demanded she tell him her PIN number for her ATM card, which she did.

The victim said he told her to go into the bathroom, close the door and not come out, or he would hurt her family. She said she was "very afraid" and hid in the bathroom. Eventually, she walked to the home of a family member, who took her to the police.

 Police alerted the victim's bank about the stolen credit and ATM cards and transported her to Amberly's Place. An officer said he noticed contusions and redness on her neck, her torn blouse and that she was having problems speaking from what he thought was the swelling of her throat, the report said.

An examination also revealed bruises on her neck, redness on each side of her chest and bite marks under her breasts, the report said.

Because of her difficulty speaking, police took her to Yuma Regional Medical Center for treatment. On the way there, police learned that there had been an attempt to use the victim's ATM card at the Del Sol Market in Somerton, and the victim's vehicle had been located there.

Police also learned that the card was used at a Circle K, which had surveillance footage of two men who used it.

Stewart was arrested the following day at the JC Penney in the Yuma Palms shopping center by police responding to a call of a shoplifter causing a disturbance.